Wall recessed toothbrush holder



June 15, 1965 A. e. MAGRAUTH WALL RECESSED TOOTHBRUSH HOLDER Filed Feb. 20, 1962 FIGS INVENTOR Andrew G. Magraurh Uted States This invention relates in general to a wail recessed cabinet construction, but more specifically to a wall recessed toothbrush holder.

Heretofore, known bathroom fixtures for holding toothbrushes and the like consisted simply of a bracket fixed to a wall so as to extend outwardly therefrom in the vicinity of a washing basin. Such brackets were usually provided with notches or openings from which the toothbrush was suspended. Toothbrush holders of this type presented an unsightly and unclean appearance. Also, such toothbrush holders are considered to be unsanitary as they are subjected to direct exposure of the bathroom atmosphere.

Therefore, an object of this invention is to provide a. sanitary toothbrush holder and one that is recessed within an upright wall, so as not to be directly exposed to the bathroom atmosphere.

Another object is to provide for a recessed toothbrush holder in which the toothbrushes supported thereby are normally concealed from View when not in use.

Still another object is to provide an improved toothbrush holder having a brush holding receptacle that is movably mounted within the housing of the holder so as to be responsive to the opening and closing of the holder door for facilitating the removal and replacement of the toothbrush.

A feature of this invention resides in the provision that the toothbrush holder of this invention is relatively simple in construction, positive in operation, and pleasing in appearance.

Other features and advantages will become readily apparent when considered in view of the description and drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a front end view of the toothbrush holder of this invention having parts thereof broken away and shown in the normal inoperative position.

FIG. 2 is a front View of the toothbrush holder shown with the door in open position.

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view taken along line 33 of FIG. 1, wherein the solid line is illustrative of the parts in the door in closed position and the dash lines illustrative of the parts in the door in open position.

FIG. 4 is a section view of a detail taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a detailed section view taken along line 55 of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings there is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 the improved toothbrush holder 16 of this invention. Accordingly the holder comprises a housing 11 which is adapted to be recessed into an opening 12 formed with an upright wall 13 of a bathroom, for instance. In the illustrated embodiment, the housing 11 includes a pair of side walls 14 and 15 which are adapted to be disposed normal to the bathorom wall 13 when recessed therein. Each of the side walls 14, 15 are provided with a depending portion 16 spaced from the bathroom wall to define the side walls of a well 17. A rear wall 18 is connected to the rear edges of the side walls 14, 15. In the illustrated embodiment the rear wall 18 includes a lower upright portion 18A which forms the rear of the well 17, and an inclined upper portion 18B. The lower ends of the side walls 14, 15 have connected therebetween a base wall 19 which forms the bottom of the well 17. Connected to the leading edges of the depending side wall portion 16 in spaced relationship to the rear wall portion 13A is an mately midway between the height of the door.

djbhfidi Patented June 15, 1965 upwardly inclined Wall 29 which defines the front of the well 17. A top and bottom Wall 21 and 22 respectively, connected between the side 14, 15 also defines therewith a rectangular opening 23 for permitting access to the interior of the housing 11.

As best seen in FIG. 4, each of the side walls 14, 15 is provided with a laterally extending flange 14A, 15A. The top and bottom walls 21, 22 as seen in FIG. 3, are each provided with lateral flanges 24-, 25, respectively, each having inturned end portions 26. While it will be understood that each of the walls defining the housing may be formed of separate and distinct panels, in the illustrated embodiment it will be observed that the base wall 19, rear Wall 18, top wall 21 and associated flange 24 are formed of one sheet of blank material A. The inclined wall 21), the bottom wall 22 and its associated flange 25 are formed of another sheet of blank material B. Each of these blanked out component parts A and B are provided with flanges 2'7 and 28, respectively which are adapted to overlie the side walls 14, 15 and may be secured to the side Walls by spot welding or the like.

Completing the housing assembly is a frame structure 29 having rearwardly turned flanges 31) for circumscribing the opening 23 to the housing 11. As seen in FIGS. 3 and 4 the frame 2? abuts against flanges 2d, 25 of the top and bottom walls 211, 21 and the flanges 14A, 15B of side walls 14, 15.

According to this invention a door 31 is provided to form a closure for the opening 23. The door 31 comprises a panel 31A having an inturned upper flange 31B and side flanges 31C. The bottom of the door is not flanged.

As shown in FIG. 3, a hinge bracket 32 is connected to each side wall 14, 15 immediately above the bottom wall 22. Each bracket 32 has an oifset portion 32A spaced inwardly of the housing 11. The arrangement is such that the side flange 31C of the door 31 may be received between the side wall 14, 15 of the housing and the offset portion 32A of the hinge brackets 32. Accordingly, the opposite side flange 31C of the door are pivotally secured to the hinge brackets 32 by a suitable hinge pin 33. As best seen in FIG. 3, the front door panel 31A is spaced slightly outwardly of the front of the housing 11 to define a vent opening 34 between the bottom of the door panel and the front of that housing. Thus the interior of the housing 11 may be ventilated when the door 31 is closed.

Within the housing there is a receptacle 35 in which the individual toothbrushes 3-6 are held. The receptacle 35 is constructed of rectangularly disposed front 35A, side 3513 and rear walls 350 and closed at the bottom by a bottom wall 35]). The top 37 of the receptacle 35 is provided with a series of openings 38 for receiving the handle portions of the toothbrushes.

As seen in FIG. 3, the receptacle 35 is positioned so as to be normally disposed in the well 17 of the housing 11. A link means is provided for moving the receptacle 35 between normal inoperative position to operative position. As shown, a pair of links 38 are connected between the door 31 and the receptacle 35 so that the latter is rendered responsive to the opening and closing of the door. Each link 38 has one end thereof pivotally connected directly to one of the door side flanges 31C at a point approxi- The other end of each link 38 is pivotally connected to the upper portion of one of the receptacle side walls 35B.

With the construction described it will be apparent that as the door is opened, as shown in FIG. 1 and in 3, by the dash lines, the receptacle, normally held in a for wardly inclined position in the well and held therein by gravity, will be rotated forwardly to assume a position substantially horizontal. In this position the brushes 36 therein may be rendered easily accessible and the weight of the door 31 maintains the receptacle 35 in operative position. s

As the door 31 is closed, the receptacle 35 will be forced to return to the well 17. Accordingly, as the door 31 is moved to closed position the weight of the receptacle 35 due to gravity tends to close the door Fill when the latter passes the midpoint-between its open and closed position. Thus in a relatively simple manner a positive movement of the receptacle 35 to operative position or the door 31 to closed position is provided.

To facilitate cleaning the receptacle 35' is detachably connected to the pivots 38A of link 38. As shown in FIG 5, the pivots 38A of links 33 consist of pins tnat are loosely retained in cooperating holds or recesses 39 formed in the side walls 35B of the receptacle Simply by exerting a slight sideway pressure on the links 33 as shown by the arrows in FIG. 5, the pins 38A may be readily disengaged from the openings to free the receptacle 35.

.As seen in the drawings, the entire housing l'll except for the door 3 1 and the frame 29 is concealed within the wall 12 of a building. Also it will be noted that the housing 11 described can be proportioned so that the size of the door 31 may be such that it occupies only the space of one standardized size tile which is commonly found in bathrooms. Consequently, it will be noted that the construction described provides a holder having a neat and clean appearance with the toothbrushes being normally concealed from view and protected from direct exposure. i i i Variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A toothbrush cabinet construction adapted to be recessed in an opening of an upright wall comprising an open front housing having a well portion depending below the front opening of said housing and spaced inwardly of the upright wall, a door for closing said opening, said door having inturned top and side flanges, hinge means pivotally connecting the lower portion of said door to said housing for swinging between open and closed positions, said hinge means spacing the bottom of said door from said housing to form a vent opening to the interior of said housing in the closed position of said door, a receptacle for holding a toothbrush extending into said well within said housing in the closed position of said door, and means connecting said receptacle to said door whereby said receptacle is rendered movable in and out of said well as said door is moved between closed and open position, said latter'means including a link having one end directly pivoted to the side flanges of said door, and having its other end directly pivoted to said receptacle.

2. The invention as defined in claim ll wherein the pivot connection between the link and receptacle is readily disengageable to permit the removal of the receptacle.

3. A cabinet construction adapted to be recessed in an opennig of an upright wall comprising an open front housing having a well portion depending below the front opening of said housing and spaced inwardly of the upright wall, a door for closing said opening, hinge means pivotally connecting the bottom said door to said housing for swinging about a horizontal axis between open and closed positions, a receptacle for holding an article arranged to extend into said well within said housing, and a link connecting the upper end of said receptacle to said door whereby said receptacle is rendered movable in and out of said well as said door is moved between closed and open position respectively, and said link being sized so that gravity holds said receptacle within said well.

, 4. A toothbrush holder comprising a pair of opposed side walls and enclosing top, back and bottom walls to define an open front housing, said housing being formed with a well depending below the open front of said housing adjacent the back end thereof, a door, hinge means for pivoting the bottom of said door for movement between open and closed position, said hinge means including a bracket secure to the side walls of said housing, a receptacle for holding a toothbrush normally extending into the well within said housing when said door is closed, and a link having one end pivoted to the door intermediate the height thereof and having its other end pivoted to the upper end of said receptacle so that said receptacle moves in and out of said well as said door is moved between open and closed positions.

5. A sanitary toothbrush holder adapted to be recessed into an opening formed in an upright wall comprising: (a) an open front housim having a depending well, (b) said housing including a pair of side walls adapted to be disposed substantially normal to the upright wall,

(0) each of said side walls having a depending portion spaced from the upright wall to define the side wall portions of said well,

(d) a rear wall connected between said side walls to form the back of said housing and its well,

(e) a base wall connected between the ends of said depending side wall portions to define the bottom of said well,

(i) an upwardly extending :all connected between the depending side wall portions in spaced relationship to said rear wall to define the front wall of said well,

(g) a bottom wall connected between said side walls forwardly of said well to define with said side walls and top wall a rectangular opening for said housing,

(h) a door for closing said opening,

(i) hinge means pivotally connecting said door to the side walls of said housing, for swinging between open and closed positions,

(j) an open endreceptacle for holding one or more toothbrushes in a normally upright position disposed within the well of said housing,

(k) means for moving said receptacle from normal upright position within said well to a substantially horizontal position out of said well to facilitate removal of a toothbrush through the open front of said housing as said door swings between open and closed position,

(1) and said latter means including a link pivotally connected at one end to said door and pivotally connected at its other end to the upper end said receptacle.

6. A sanitary toothbrush holder adapted to be recessed into an opening formed in an upright wall and comprising: (a) an open front housing having a depending Well,

(b) said housing including a pair of side walls adapted to be disposed substantially normal to the upright wall,

(c) each of said side walls having a depending portion spaced from the upright wall to define the side wall portions of said well,,

(d) a rear wall connected between said side walls to form the back of said housing and its well,

(e) a base wall connected between the ends of said depending side wall portions to define the bottom of said well,

(f) an inclined wall connected between the depending side wall portions in spaced relationship to said rear wall to define the front wall of said well,

(g) a bottom wall connected between said side walls forwardly of said well to define with said side walls and top wall a rectangular opening for said housing,

(h) a door for closing said opening,

(i) hinge means pivotally connecting said door to the side walls of said housing for swinging between open and closed positions,

(j) a receptacle for holding a toothbrush in a substantially upright position disposed within the well of said housing,

(k) means for moving said receptacle in and out of said well as said door is opened and closed, and

(1) said latter means including a link pivotally connected at one end to said door and pivotally connected at its other end to said receptacle.

7. A sanitary toothbrush holder adapted to be recessed into an opening formed in an upright wall and comprising:

(a) an open front housing having a depending Well,

(b) said housing including a pair of side walls adapted to be disposed substantially normal to the upright wall,

(c) each of said side walls having a depending portion spaced from the upright wall to define the side wall portions of said well,

((1) a rear wall connected between said side walls to form. the back of said housing and its Well,

(e) a base wall connected between the ends of said depending side wall portions to define the bottom of said well,

(f) an upwardly inclined wall connected between the depending side wall portions in spaced relationship to said rear wall to define the front wall of said well,

(g) a bottom wall connected between said side walls forwardly of said Well to define with said side walls and top wall a rectangular opening for said housing,

(11) a door for closing said opening, said door having inturned top and side flanges,

(i) hinge means pivotally connecting said door to the side walls of said housing for swinging between open and closed positions, said hinge means spacing said door from the plane of said upright wall to define a vent opening to the interior of said housing,

(j) a receptacle for holding a toothbrush normally disposed within the well of said housing,

(k) means for moving said receptacle in and out of said well as said door is opened and closed, and

(1) said latter means including a link pivotally connected at one end to said door and pivotally connected at its other end to said receptacle.

8. A sanitary toothbrush holder adapted to be recessed into an opening formed in an upright wall comprising:

(a) an open front housing having a depending well,

(b) said housing including a pair of side walls adapted to be disposed substantially normal to the upright wall,

(c) each of said side walls having a depending portion spaced from the upright wall to define the side Wall portions of said well,

(d) a rear wall connected between said side walls to form the back of said housing and its well,

(e) a base wall connected between the ends of said depending side wall portions to define the bottom of said well,

(f) an upwardly inclined wall connected between the depending side wall portions in spaced relationship to said rear wall to define the front wall of said well,

(g) a bottom wall connected between said side walls forwardly of said Well to define with said side walls and top wall a rectangular opening for said housing, a flanged frame extending about the periphery of said rectangular opening,

(h) a door for closing said opening,

(i) hinge means pivotally connecting the bottom said door to the side Walls of said housing, for swinging between open and closed positions, said hinge means spacing said door from said housing to define a vent opening to the interior of said housing,

(3') a receptacle for holding a toothbrush normally disposed within the well of said housing,

(k) means for moving said receptacle in and out of said well as said door is opened and closed, and

(1) said latter means including a link pivotally connected directly to one end to said door and pivotally connected at its other end directly to said receptacle.

9. A toothbrush cabinet construction adapted to be recessed in an opening of an upright wall comprising an opening front housing having a well portion depending below the front opening of said housing and spaced inwardly of the upright wall, a door for closing said opening, hinge means pivotally connecting the lower portion of said door to said housing for swinging between open and closed positions, said hinge means spacing the bot tom of said door from said housing to form a vent opening to the interior of said housing in the closed position of said door, a receptacle for holding a toothbrush eXte'nding into said well within said housing in the closed position of said door, means for connecting said receptacle to said door whereby said receptacle is rendered movable in and out of said well as said door is moved between closed and open positions, said latter means including a link having one end directly pivoted to said door and having another end directly pivoted to said receptacle.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,593,910 7/26 Patch 312-242 X 1,611,295 12/26 West 312--127X 2,563,746 8/51 Ressinger 312 127 2,608,294 8/52 Ward 312206 X 2,739,584 5/36 Hupp 312 213 X 3,008,609 11/61 Sessions 312-242 X 3,062,606 11/62 Magrauth 312-242 X FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner. CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Examiner, 

9. A TOOTHBRUSH CABINET CONSTRUCTION ADAPTED TO BE RECESSED IN AN OPENING OF AN UPRIGHT WALL COMPRISING AN OPENING FRONT HOUSING HAVING A WELL PORTION EXTENDING BELOW THE FRONT OPENING OF SAID HOUSING AND SPACED INWARDLY OF THE UPRIGHT WALL, A DOOR FOR CLOSING SAID OPENING, HINGE MEANS PIVOTALLY CONNECTING THE LOWER PORTION OF SAID DOOR TO SAID HOUSING FOR SWINGING BETWEEN OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS, SAID HINGE MEANS SPACING THE BOTTOM OF SAID DOOR FROM SAID HOUSING TO FORM A VENT OPENING TO THE INTERIOR OF SAID HOUSING IN THE CLOSED POSITION OF SAID DOOR, A RECEPTACLE FOR HOLDING A TOOTHBRUSH EXTENDING INTO SAID WELL WITHIN SAID HOUSING IN THE CLOSED POSI- 